A City Council committee took up the matter Monday. The discussion centered on a threat from the Los Angeles City Attorney.

LAPD expected more than a million people for the Michael Jackson memorial. They had the largest deployment of police since the Los Angeles Olympics. The overtime alone cost the cash strapped city $2 million. "It was an event promoted by Staples. In all due respect to Mr. Jackson -- his sad death, untimely death -- the fact of the matter is, it was more than a memorial service," said L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine.

It became clear Monday the city has no chance of recovering the costs as long as its city attorney holds out the possibility of a criminal prosecution.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has said there are potential criminal or civil violations he's investigating regarding the memorial.

There had been negotiations with AEG, the owners of Staples, about the company paying the costs -- until Trutanich made that threat. "When you have a threat of criminal prosecution hanging over your head that's not conducive to having somebody make a donation," said Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Members of the Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee all but admitted Jan Perry was correct. Liewicke has said of the threat from the city attorney, "prove it or drop it." He's accused Trutanich of being a bully.

"I think there is nothing gained by prolonging this any further," said Councilman Craig Weiss. "We are going to be partners with AEG for a long, long time."

Friday, the City Council hopes to have Trutanich explain just how far he's willing to take this, whether there is a chance of criminal charges.

Also this article:

City-Touted, $4 Million Benefit From Jackson Memorial Pulled From Thin Air

LA Weekly obtained a series of emails that shed light on City Hall's oft-touted contention that July's Michael Jackson memorial at Staples Center downtown was a $4 million boost to area businesses. The number is important because it's often cited by those who believe it was worth it for the city cover the bill for police and officer overtime -- $3.2 million -- for that day's events downtown.

It turns out the $4 million number didn't come from a study. It first arose when Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation was quoted in the media -- before the memorial took place -- saying that it could bring $4 million in business to the city. The City Council had no investment in the figure until Oct. 22, when the legislative analyst's office shot an after-hours email off to the LAEDC asking it to justify the figure on the eve of a council hearing on the memorial's costs. City Hall needed to cover its decision to spend $3.2 million on the memorial, and the $4 million windfall could have been its magic number.

"Was the LAEDC able to actually determine the revenues generated from the event," asked June Gibson, assistant chief legislative analyst, in the Oct. 22 email. Kyser responded the next morning: "The $4 million estimate was a very rough estimate that was done in response to media calls. We have not done a comprehensive analysis of the revenue generated, but would estimate that the $4 million was probably low."

In a subsequent email to the city, Kyser said, as he had told the Weekly, "The conclusion was based on the number of celebrities who came in to L.A. for the service. Several probably came in on private planes, which would go to either Van Nuys, BGP or LAX. They would probably have used car services. Some would have stayed in hotels probably on the Westside. They probably also conducted business while they were in Los Angeles."As we reported last week there was little evidience to support the idea that a throng of celebs flooded L.A. for the memorial. One major fact to consider is that many of the dignitaries who came to the memorial already live here. Some of them, as an official at Anschutz Entertainment Group, the company that owns Staples Center, admitted, were already in town as a result of Jackson's death (and some of them famously skipped the 17,500-ticket event at Staples).

What's more, the expected, million-strong throng of people never showed at Staples that day. In fact, then-Chief William Bratton estimated the crowd around Staples at 600 at one point during the memorial July 7. One expert told LA Weekly that people turned off by the prospect of a mob scene downtown stayed away and could have actually hurt area business.As the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday, AEG has been kind to some of the same folks on the City Council who have been quick to deflect criticism of the city's spending on the memorial. The company has raised funds for political issues of great importance to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilwoman Jan Perry, who represents much of downtown. Villaraigosa had originally asked members of the public to pitch in via a website to help cover the city's costs for AEG's show. Perry has been critical of those on the council who have pressured the company to cover the city's costs, calling them people who "want to get recognition for being the one who took it across the finish line."

The money is a drop in the bucket for a city that is heading toward a more than $1 million per day operating deficit. But what critics are asking is whether residents should have to live with one less cop or one less firefighter because AEG, a company owned by billionaire Tim Leiweke Phil Anschutz, wanted to put on what was essentially 90-minute television special for 31 million viewers across the world. The company sold the rights to Jackson's Staples Center rehearsal footage to Sony for $60 million. Sony used it as the backbone for the blockbuster concert film This Is It. AEG has a 10 percent stake in the movie's profits. The memorial served, intended or not, to stoke interest in the entertainer and, thus, AEG's stake in his legacy.

Chief legislative analyst Gerry Miller and city administrative officer Miguel Santana wrote in a report that the city should back off of AEG."In light of the overall positive impact of the event ($4 million), and that there was no ordinance in place prior to the event providing for cost recovery from major venues, the city may wish to cease pursuing cost reimbursement."

I have to mention I saw this on an MJ fansite where a fan also mentioned the fact that fans were threatened not to come to the memorial (on the side of the road that is) and burial. I remember not thinking much about it the time but now that we are looking into a possible hoax,could that have something to do with it? Not wanting his fans to go through something like that?It's very odd when you think about how close Michael was with his fans...

My thoughts while reading that is that it makes it sound like some people are scared to go up against AEG??

And, good point about the fans being turned away. But, what about where it says only 600 at the memorial?? I wonder if they left off a few zeroes? And, what about ""I think there is nothing gained by prolonging this any further," said Councilman Craig Weiss. "We are going to be partners with AEG for a long, long time."" Partners? Why a long, long time?

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"They're coming to a rock and roll concert and watching television. That says it all." - Larry Mullen jr on the ZooTV experience.

I don't quite understand . Maybe when they say the city attorney is prolonging MJ's case? Maybe because of the hoax? SOmeone break down a brief summary of the articles and how they would relate to the hoax. Thanks a bunch. :roll: :roll:

I don't quite understand . Maybe when they say the city attorney is prolonging MJ's case? Maybe because of the hoax? SOmeone break down a brief summary of the articles and how they would relate to the hoax. Thanks a bunch. :roll: :roll:

Well that was my question as well, english isn't my first language so there are parts of these articles that I don't quite understand as well. I was hoping someone could help in that area.

They had better get the money situation straightened out otherwise this will leave a bad taste in people's mouth. No loose ends. No dangling affairs. Plus, I was under the impression that the family aka Jackson estate handled these money matters. Someone must have let the ball drop there. Get it Together!

My thoughts while reading that is that it makes it sound like some people are scared to go up against AEG??

And, good point about the fans being turned away. But, what about where it says only 600 at the memorial?? I wonder if they left off a few zeroes? And, what about ""I think there is nothing gained by prolonging this any further," said Councilman Craig Weiss. "We are going to be partners with AEG for a long, long time."" Partners? Why a long, long time?

Doesn't AEG own the Staples Center?

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[size=85]Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. -John Wesley English religious leader (1703 - 1791) [/size]

From the article:"It became clear Monday the city has no chance of recovering the costs as long as its city attorney holds out the possibility of a criminal prosecution.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has said there are potential criminal or civil violations he's investigating regarding the memorial."

What I'm interested in knowing is what criminal or civil violations did AEG violate by organizing the memorial? I'm hoping that the violations they commited were putting on a fake memorial that cost the city $3 million.

Another quote from the article:"...the fact of the matter is, it was more than a memorial service,"

What the heck does that mean? I would like to know exactly what it was if it was more than a memorial service for the most famous man on earth.

I am puzzled. Didn't the PD tell people not to come to the memorial, that they would be turned away or arrested if they came? And didn't they say that people could watch the jumbotrons set up in designated areas? So, if this was said, then why the big police turnout for crowd control? Did the Jackson estate enter into an agreement for coverage of this event? Didn't the Jackson estate cover the cost of the burial because they in fact did ask for police coverage? Is the DAs office trying to make a name for themselves? If AEG was in talks with the city, why is the DAs office mucking up the works? How was all that money spent in 2005 trying to railroad MJ paid back? Wasn't it in the double digit millions? WHAT IS GOING ON????? :?

They had better get the money situation straightened out otherwise this will leave a bad taste in people's mouth. No loose ends. No dangling affairs. Plus, I was under the impression that the family aka Jackson estate handled these money matters. Someone must have let the ball drop there. Get it Together!

Same thoughts :roll:

I hope someone from MJ's camp would really explain what's going on and time is passing by so quickly and I think some things will leak out. As they say, the truth will always come out no matter how much you hide it.